WARNING: All websites needs SSL security or they will be penalised by Google

TobyCreative

8 months ago

NOTE: https:// = Secure site http:// = Site with security risks

Which websites does this apply to? All that have a contact form to fill in and many others too.

Google now shows a not secure website warning when someone clicks to the website which will cause people to close the window and not enter the website.

The SAFE decision is to convert your site to a Secure Site. The cost? $80 ex GST per annum for a SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate and $130 ex GST to implement and update your current website to HTTPS for most of our client websites.

Any questions call your website hosting company Toby Creative now on (08) 9386 3444, email info@tobycreative.com.au or fill in our contact form on our website to arrange this important SSL certificate.

Note: Some businesses may use a third-party payment gateway solution to accept payments from their online store but did not acquire an SSL to cover their entire website. Commonly an external third-party payment gateway SSL certificate only covers the ecommerce transaction and is for their own payment gateway website – NOT the rest of your actual website.

Why is this an issue?

Google has clearly advised website owners since last year, when in October a change occurred in Google’s Chrome browser where they now highlight to consumers within their web-browser (the most popular web browser used on the internet globally), that your website forms are not secure, which may lead to users in Chrome browser not submitting any form content.

Now the July deadline is approaching. Google’s latest Chrome browser security update is due in July where: “all sites not migrated to HTTPS will be marked as not secure from July 2018”

Google Chrome will show a not secure website warning when someone clicks to the website which will cause people to close the window and not enter the website.

It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that Google and many others want the web to be more secure. Google had their HTTPS everywhere campaign, they announced HTTPS as a ranking signal, and they have started indexing secure pages over unsecured pages. They even have their own guide, “Securing Your Website With HTTPS,”

Why move to HTTPS?

Google identifies several reasons to switch to HTTPS in their website migration guide:

Data sent using HTTPS is secured via Transport Layer Security protocol (TLS), which provides three key layers of protection:

Encryption. Encrypting the exchanged data to keep it secure from eavesdroppers. That means that while the user is browsing a website, nobody can “listen” to their conversations, track their activities across multiple pages or steal their information.

Data integrity. Data cannot be modified or corrupted during transfer, intentionally or otherwise, without being detected.

Authentication. Proves that your users communicate with the intended website. It protects against man-in-the-middle attacks and builds user trust, which translates into other business benefits.

There are other benefits, though, including the Google ranking boost previously mentioned.

Making the switch to HTTPS also helps with the loss of referral data that happens when the referral value in the header is dropped when switching from a secure website to an unsecured website. Analytics programs attribute traffic without the referral value as direct, which accounts for a large portion of what is called “dark traffic.”

If you have any questions about this, please let us know so I can address this with you.

Your costs:

$80 ex GST per annum SSL certificate

Installation and updating your website’s link references to HTTPS. Price starts from $130 ex GST and is quoted per site depending on your website’s structure.

Please note that when updating your website to HTTPS mode, other things may need to also be subsequently updated to reflect the change in the URL as well which I would like to draw your attention to. If you need assistance to action any of the below, most of the following actions are covered within our convenient, no lock-in contract, Toby Creative Perth SEO Plans:

For example;

Google Search Console account version for HTTPS

Bing Webmaster Tools account version for HTTPS

.htaccess updated to redirect http -> https to avoid 404 errors

Google Analytics to reference HTTPS

Google Adwords Ad target URL to reference the new HTTPS landing pages

Sponsored Advertising campaigns to reference the new HTTPS landing pages

Google My Business/Maps update link to your HTTPS website

Bing Maps/Apple Maps update link to your HTTPS website

References to your HTTPS website in your company email stationery

References to your HTTPS website in your company social media channels

Toby Creative offer a truly integrated marketing strategy, with guidance and support, good communication and clear reporting. We would love to meet with you to find out more about your business. Contact Toby Creative – Branding & Marketing on (08) 9386 3444, email info@tobycreative.com.au or fill in our contact form to book a no obligation free initial consultation at your location so that we can discuss your specific marketing requirements.